Pitchfork hated every Nas and Hit Boy collab. You're literally the only person in the world saying dumb s*** like this about Nas/Hit Boy all the time. No one thinks of them as "nerd music" or "music for critics". You're delusional.

Gangstarr used to be one of my favs when i was younger & the first old school east coast artist(s) i ever got into on my own

What's your fav Gang Starr album?

Moment of truth easily for me
Hard to earn close second

Same, I think that should be everybody's favorite Gang Starr album

Their definitive work my first gang Starr album though was actually the full clip compilation on double cd back in the day

Hard to Earn is my favorite, but Step in the Arena is after. Check the Technique is a top 10 Preemo beat to me. Then Daily Operation

Moment of Truth is a classic too. Even No More Mr Nice Guy is great. Manifest remix is my favorite beat from them.

You can't go wrong with choosing any album though.